Stuart RV Repair services fifth wheel hitches on-site across Stuart, FL and Martin County. Pin box adjustments, jaw replacements, king pin inspections, and full hitch rebuilds. B&W, Reese, PullRite, and Curt. RVIA certified.
Stuart RV Repair handles fifth wheel hitch repair on-site across Martin County. Pin box adjustments, jaw replacements, king pin inspections, lubrication, and complete hitch rebuilds. B&W, Reese, PullRite, and Curt brands. $95-550 depending on the job. We come to you anywhere in Stuart, FL and surrounding areas. Call 772-280-3915. Need other hitch and leveling services? We handle those too.
That clunking noise you hear when you hit the brakes or pull away from a stop? It's not just annoying. It means the jaw inside your fifth wheel hitch has developed play against the king pin, and that gap grows every time you tow. We see this constantly on rigs coming through Stuart, Palm City, and Jensen Beach. Owners assume the noise is normal. It's not.
The jaw is the part that grabs and holds the king pin. Over thousands of miles of towing, the contact surfaces wear down. The king pin develops grooves where the jaw meets it, and the jaw itself loses material. Add in dried-out grease, a loose handle mechanism, and a pin box that hasn't been adjusted since the trailer was new, and you've got a hitch that's sloppy and potentially dangerous at highway speed.
According to Lippert Components, the king pin should be inspected every 12 months and the hitch jaws checked for wear at the same interval. We measure the king pin diameter with a caliper and compare it to the factory spec. If it's worn 1/8 inch or more, it's time for a new pin. Most owners have never had this checked.
Worn jaws and a dry king pin plate. The jaw has lost enough material to create slack. Every time weight shifts forward or back, the king pin rocks in the jaw and makes that thunk. A jaw replacement runs $185-350 and solves it. We also regrease the entire contact surface.
The locking indicator and handle linkage have worn or gone out of adjustment. This is a safety concern because an unlocked hitch can separate on the road. We adjust the linkage, replace worn pins and springs if needed, and verify the locking indicator reads correctly. Takes about an hour, $95-175.
Either the hitch head height doesn't match the trailer, the jaws aren't opening fully, or there's gunk and dried grease preventing the king pin from sliding into position. We clean the contact surfaces, adjust the jaw opening, and check height alignment. If the pin box needs rebuilding, we handle that too.
Pin box bushings wear out over time, especially on rigs that tow on rough Florida back roads toward Indiantown or along A1A near Hutchinson Island. Worn bushings create side-to-side slop. A pin box rebuild with new bushings and dampeners runs $275-450 and makes the trailer track straight again.
The king pin takes all the rotational force from the jaw. Over years of towing, a groove develops where metal meets metal. If you can see or feel a ridge, the pin is getting thin. We measure the diameter with a caliper. If it's down 1/8 inch from spec, the pin gets replaced. $195-325 including labor.
We see this when someone upgrades to a bigger fifth wheel and still has the old hitch in the truck. We check the hitch weight rating, pin weight capacity, and compare it to the trailer's actual specs. If the hitch is undersized, we'll recommend the right replacement and can install it same visit or within a day or two.
Different hitch manufacturers use different jaw designs, locking mechanisms, and mounting systems. Here's what we work on most across Stuart, Palm City, and Martin County.
B&W is the hitch we see the most in Martin County. The Companion uses a single-jaw design with a simple handle lock. The Patriot has a cushioned coupling feature. Both use the same jaw profile, and we keep replacement jaw kits on the truck. The Companion pairs with B&W's turnoverball gooseneck system, making it easy to remove when you don't need it.
Reese hitches show up on a lot of mid-range fifth wheel setups. The 5th Airborne uses a dual-jaw system for a tighter grip on the king pin. The Pro Series is the budget option and uses a simpler single-jaw. Jaw wear patterns differ between the two, and parts aren't interchangeable. We carry the most common replacement jaws for both.
PullRite specializes in automatically sliding fifth wheel hitches that handle short-bed trucks. The SuperGlide moves the hitch head rearward during tight turns so the trailer cab doesn't contact the truck cab. The sliding mechanism adds more wear points and more parts that need periodic lubrication. We service both the hitch and the slide mechanism.
Curt hitches are a solid mid-range option that we see more of every year. The A-Series is their top-tier model with a dual-jaw system. The Q-Series is more affordable with a roller design. Both use standard rail mounting. We install and service both lines, and Curt parts are typically easier to source than some of the specialty brands.
Call 772-280-3915 or use the online form. Tell us what's going on: clunking, hard coupling, loose handle, or you just want the hitch inspected before a trip. If you know the hitch brand and model, mention it. We'll get you scheduled same or next day in Martin County.
Our tech inspects the entire hitch assembly: jaw condition, king pin diameter, locking mechanism, pin box bushings, and mounting hardware. You get exact measurements and a written estimate before any work begins. Takes about 20 minutes.
We carry jaw kits, king pin hardware, lubrication supplies, and common bushings on the truck. After the repair, we couple and uncouple the hitch to verify smooth operation and check the locking indicator. One visit, done right.
| Repair Type | Price Range | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lubrication & adjustment service | $95-145 | 45 min |
| Jaw replacement (B&W / Reese / Curt) | $185-350 | 2 hours |
| Pin box rebuild | $275-450 | 2-3 hours |
| King pin replacement | $195-325 | 1.5-2 hours |
| Hitch head replacement | $350-550 | 2-3 hours |
| New hitch installation (complete) | $395-550+ | 3-5 hours |
Had a terrible clunk in our B&W Companion every time we stopped. Towed from Hobe Sound to Stuart for the appointment and the tech found the jaw was worn down significantly. He had replacement jaws on the truck, swapped them in about two hours, and regreased the whole assembly. Dead silent now on the road.
Needed a new fifth wheel hitch installed in our Ram 3500. The tech came to our place in Jensen Beach, installed the rail kit and a B&W Companion hitch in about four hours. Everything was torqued to spec and he walked me through the coupling process. Professional job start to finish.
Our pin box was making a grinding noise and the trailer was swaying more than usual on US-1. Tech rebuilt the entire pin box with new bushings and a dampener. Took about three hours. The difference in how the trailer tracks is night and day. Should have done this a year ago.
Fifth wheel hitch repairs in Stuart typically run $95-550. A full lubrication and adjustment service starts at $95-145. Jaw replacement on a B&W or Reese hitch costs $185-350. Pin box rebuilds run $275-450. A complete hitch head replacement can reach $350-550 depending on the brand. You always get a written quote first.
Every 3-4 months or every 3,000 towing miles. In Florida's heat, grease breaks down faster. We use a high-temp lithium complex grease rated for 300+ degrees on the king pin plate and jaw pivot points. If you're hearing chucking or popping noises during turns, the hitch is overdue.
Worn jaws, a loose king pin fit, or dried-out lubrication. The jaw grabs the king pin and holds it. As the jaw wears, play develops. That gap translates to a clunk every time you brake or accelerate. A jaw replacement runs $185-350 and stops the noise. We check the king pin wear at the same time.
Yes. B&W Companion and Patriot are two of the hitches we service the most in Martin County. We carry jaw kits, handle assemblies, and replacement pins for both models. Jaw replacements take about 2 hours. The Companion uses a different jaw profile than Reese, so brand-specific parts matter.
Look for visible wear grooves around the shaft. If you can feel a ridge where the jaw contacts the pin, it's getting thin. According to Lippert Components, a king pin should be replaced once it's worn 1/8 inch from its original diameter. We measure this with a caliper during every hitch inspection.
Yes. We install B&W, Reese, PullRite, and Curt fifth wheel hitches in truck beds across Martin County. This includes rail kits, gooseneck adapters, and complete base-to-head installs. Installation takes 3-5 hours depending on the truck and hitch type. We torque every bolt to manufacturer spec.
We handle all RV hitch and leveling repairs across Martin County. Leveling jacks, weight distribution hitches, brake controllers, and landing gear. If you've got multiple issues, we'll handle everything in one visit.
We cover Martin County and surrounding areas for all fifth wheel hitch repairs. From Stuart and Palm City through Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and beyond.
Call us or request a free estimate. We'll send a tech to your location with the right parts, same or next day. Jaw replacements, pin box rebuilds, king pin swaps, full installations. All done at your campground or driveway.